Friday, February 12, 2010

I was preparing some bruschettas for lunch last Saturday when I heard Joao screaming like mad from the living room: “Hurry up! Come over here, quickly!” – it was a TV article about cupcakes in New York City and they showed some of the city bakeries, including Magnolia – so beautiful! My heart was filled with joy just by looking at those pretty places... *sigh*

While I don’t get to know the bakeries personally, I make my own cupcakes – these are from DH mag #17.

Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F; line twelve ½ cup capacity muffin pans with paper cases.
Place the butter, sugar and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well. Sift the flour and baking powder over the butter mixture, add the coconut and combine. Line twelve ½ cup capacity muffin pans with paper cases. Spoon in the prepared pan and bake for 35 minutes or until cooked with tested with a skewer. Cool completely on wire racks.
To make the whipped chocolate icing, place the chocolate, cream and butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir until melted and smooth. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool completely. Once cool, beat with a hand-held electric mixer until thick and fluffy. Ice the cool cupcakes and top them with the flaked coconut.

* as my icing wouldn’t whip, I refrigerated it for 30 minutes then beat it again with the mixer – I recommend using less cream and less butter

So funny your reference above about how you don't get to know the bakeries personally because you bake your own. I'm slowly realising the same thing. I can't remember the last time I bought something from a bakery. Maybe a croissant or something slightly more time consuming. But cakes, cookies, slices, pastry - I don't even think of buying them any longer. I just automatically make them.

These cupcakes are example of how fabulous homemade is. They look amazing. I love the large flecks of coconut on top! :)

I've just made your cupcakes and they're delicious. Thank you so much for the recipe! The only problem I have with them is that they turned out somewhat dry - I'll have to adjust the baking time for the next batch (and yes, there will be a next batch :)). Or maybe I'll pour some syrup over them - I'm thinking rum and lime, to go with the coconut.I used a different frosting - white chocolate cream cheese, inspired by a recipe I found at the Wilton website. Great stuff!